Mr Symmonds said: “We have had a lot of positive feedback about this year’s festival and I thought it was a good event.

“We had a very receptive audience during the week, both in the Market Place where the main stage was and at the Alnwick Playhouse, which hosted a number of evening performances.

“We dealt with the setbacks we faced and I think we produced a successful music festival.

“We had people joining our Friends of the Music Festival scheme and everyone wants another music festival next year which includes performers from abroad.

“There is a serious commitment from the committee and our helpers that there will be a festival next year and we are challenged with providing a festival with international performers in its content.

“The 40th celebration of the festival was not the end, but the beginning of a new era, as some modifications will need to be made.

“The days of having overseas groups which are made up of 60 performers are long gone, but smaller groups would be within our budget.

“From now on, the delivery of a festival in 2016 is the objective. But we do need more people on the committee. That is one of our major problems, because there are too few people doing too many tasks.”

Mr Symmonds thanked everyone who supported this year’s festival, including the volunteers. For more information, visit alnwickmusicfestival.com